Means for stretching or shaping socks and similar foot coverings



Ma ch 30, 1948. N. B RKER 2,438,531

MEANS FOR STRETCHING OR SHAPING SOCKS AND SIMILAR FOOT COVERINGS Filed Aug. 9, 1946 Patented Mar. 30, 1948 MEANS FOR STRETCHING R SHAPING SOCKS AND SIMILAR FOOT COVERIN GS Norris Barker, Johannesburg, Transvaal, Union of South Africa Application August 9, 1946, Serial No. 689,317 In the Union of South Africa August 28, 1945 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means for stretching or shaping socks, stockings and similar footwear or foot coverings. The means or device is applicable for usein stretching or expanding shrunken socks in drying them after they have been washed, so as to impart to them the required shape and size, and also for drying and shaping socks and the like which have been moistened or wetted after manufacture, in order to impart the desired shape and size to the dry and finished product, or, by limiting the amount of or preventing shrinkage when wet, to determine the shape and dimensions of the sock or the like.

The means or device can also be utilized for displaying socks, stockings or the like in shops and other places.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved simple and efficient sock, et cetera, stretcher, shaper or former on which the sock can be easily and quickly placed in position, and which can thereafter be operated or adjusted to stretch the same in the process of drying, shaping or forming it, and to retain it in that condition for a sufficient length of time to cause it to keep its finished shape without contraction or shrinkage.

According to the invention I provide a frame or former shaped to conform more or less to the shape of the toe, sole, heel and back portions of the sock when in a flat condition, and. extending forwardly beyond or at the top of the back portion, and a cord or other flexible element or member adapted, when in use, to extend from the toe portion or front of the foot portion of the frame to the forwardly extending portion thereof and to be operated or moved into position to apply suitable tension to the front of the sock to cause it to be stretched or shaped upon and by the frame and cord or member.

Cord or other flexible or resilient means is combined or made integral with the cord or flexible member for limiting its stretching or shaping movement in'a forward direction at or near the ankle. Such means may be adjustable so as to vary the extent of such limit, and for this purpose the flexible cord or member may include the limiting means and in its lower portion be of triangular shape and engage, at one angle with the toe portion of the frame, at another angle with the frame near the heel portion thereof, and from the third angle extend upwardly to engage with the forwardly extending portion of the frame. In this case the part of the flexible cord or member, between the point .of n agement with the toe portion of the frame and the third angle, may serve to stretch or shape the front of the foot portion of the sock. The triangular portion of the cord or member may .be freely movable in relation to the frame to vary the angles thereof automatically, or be detachably fixed at one or both of its points of attachment with the frame.

The forwardly extending portion of the frame may be fashioned with an arcuate or curved top or outer surface to be engaged by a looped portion of the cord or member. The are or the curved surface may be struck from a centre such that a more or less uniform tension of the cord or member will be maintained when adjusting the looped end portion thereof on the curved surface to stretch or shape the sock.

The invention will be more fully described with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein two practical embodiments of the same are illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the means or device, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion of another form of the means or device.

In the drawings the same reference numerals are employed to denote like parts.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which the complete means or device is illustrated, the numeral 1 denotes the frame or former, shaped more or less to the contour of the toe and lower and back portions of the sock. In this embodiment the frame or former I may be made of stout wire or metal rod and is shown of round section. 2 denotes the toe portion of the frame or former I 3 the sole portion, 4 the heel portion, and 5 the lower back and calf portion. Beyond the portion 5 the frame I is extended upwardly at 6, and then bent at I and shaped to provide the forwardlyextending curved or arcuate portion 8. At the end of the curved portion 8 it is bent or shaped to extend downwardly at 9, in the direction of the sole portion 3 .to provide a hook from which it may be suspended. The frame I, from the top of the toe portion 2, is shaped, as indicated at ID, to extend in the direction of the heel 4 to a point II near said heel 4.

This construction of the device permits the sock or the like, whether in a wet or dry condition, to .be easily and quickly placed upon the frame I, and ,as readilyremoved therefrom after it has been stretched or shaped thereon, as hereinafter described.

I2 is the cord or member which operates in conjunction with the frame I to stretch or shape the sock. It is passed downwardly through and the frame I.

engages in a hole l3 in the upper side of the toe portion 2 of the frame I, and thence passes to and downwardly through a hole I4 in the heel portion 4 near its junction with the sole portion 3, whence it passes to and. upwardly through a further hole I5, then downwardly to and is formed below the point of connection I8.

From the point I8 the two portions ofthe cord l2 extend for a suitable distance upwardly and the upper portions are knotted in two places at 2| and 22 to form a loop 23, and near their ends are connected by a preferably metal seal 24,

which can be held between the finger and thumb in manipulating the cord I2.

The edges of t he holes I3, I 4, I5, I6 and I! are allsuitably rounded so'asno t to chafe the cord I2. The passing of :the 7 cord or member I2 through the holes M r-I1 as shown ensures that said cord I2 willbe locked against movement due to pull from either end, but allows ofadjustment of the cord I2 by pulling the same through each hole separately in turn. I V

e The triangular lower portion 20 of the cord I2 maybe moved or adjusted to vary its interior anglesfand so permit the position of the point of connection I8 to-be variedor adjusted in relation to the uppeiiipart of the heel portion 4,

to limit the stretching movement of, the cord I2 at or about the position of the ankle.

In operation the cord I2 will first be loosened by moving the loop 23 (which is shown sur rounding the forwardlyextending portion 8 of the'frame I) backwards upon said portion 8 of the frame and over the bend I. The sock is then arranged in position upon the frame I, and the cord [2 pulled taut, and the loop then moved forwardly over the bend J on to the arcuate surface of the forwardly extending portion 8 sufficiently to shape the sock or stretch it to the desired extent; During this operation the-portion I9 of the cord I2 serves to shape or stretch the upper or frontfoot portion of the sock, and the portion 23 of the triangle 20 serves to limit the stretching movement of the cord I2 at the ankle. Ingorder to stretch the sock, in case it is wet and shrunken, thetoe'portion 2 of the frame I is pushed into the toe of the sock, and the shrunken heel gradually pulled over the heel portion 4 of The'front of the sock is then stretched by pulling it, and the cord I2 then moved into position to retain the sock, under the necessary tension, in the stretched condition.

Knots 26,21, are made in the portions 23 and 28 of the triangular portion 20 of the cord I2 which, by coming into contact with the frame I at the holes I1, and M respectively, operate as stops and limit the movement of the cord I2in both directions when adjusting it. This .will also permit of slackening of the cord I2 at the trian gle 20 when stretching a sock that has shrunk in washing.

In the modified form or the invention 111ustrated in Fig. 2, the frame or former I is made 7 of rnetalor material of flatshape in cross-section, and the holesrfor the reception of the cord I2 pass through theframe I from sideto side thereof. In this construction provision is made for lockingthecord I2 in the frame I at both the toe portion 2 and heel portion 4. For this 4 toe portion 2, and four spaced holes 30 in the heel portion 4 to and through which the cord I2 is caused to pass, as shown.

This form of the invention, in which the frame is made of flat strip metal, will act to leave a pronounced crease or produce an ironed effect in the fiat sock, when shaping -or stretching the same, and will be especially useful to manufacturers for shaping and drying socks,

. so as to afford strength without interfering with stockings and the like after the same have been made, in which case they can be suitably arranged upon the device and thereaftersprayed, steamed or wetted to shrink and shape them thereon.

The frames or formers I in either of the above formsmay be made of stainless steel, or other suitable non-corrosive metal, and be of any preferred and suitable shape in cross-section, or be galvanized, plated or otherwise treated to provide them with vrustless surfaces. thevmay be made of plastic material andwbe constructed with a strengthening rib or web ex-.

tending inwardly from a rounded outer portion;

the drying of the sock. V If preferred the cord or member made of resilient material, or elastic or spring means may be incorporated therein orcombined therewith.

What I claim as protect by Letters Patent is:

L Means for stretching or shapingsocks and similar foot coverings, including a frame shaped to conform substantially .to'theshapeof the toe, sole, heel and back portions of the sock or the like when in a fiat condition, and extending'forwardlyat the top of the back portion, and acord adapted, when in use, to extend from the toe portion of the frame to andengage with' the forwardly extending portion thereof, and to be moved into position to apply tension to the front of the sock to cause it to be stretched or shaped upon and by the frame and said cord; said cord including a portion adapted to extend'from the forwardly extending portion of the frameto a point in the region of the anklepa portion connecting the cord at such point to'the toe portion of the frame and serving to stretch or shape the front of the foot of the sock, and a further portion connecting said cord at said point to the heel 7 portion of the frameand serving to limit the movement of the cord in the ankle.

2.'Means for stretching or shaping socks and wardly at the top of the' back portion, and having I holes in its toe and heel 'portions',anda cord adapted, when in use, to extend fromthe 'toe portion of the frameto and engage with the forwardly extending portion thereof, andto be moved into position to apply tension to thefront' of the sock to cause it Itobe stretched or s'haped" upon and by the frame and said cord'; said cord including a portion adapted to extend from the forwardly extending portion of the frame to a point in the region of the ankle and a triangular part connecting said first-mentioned portion to the toe and heel portions of the frameandlade, justable in theholes in the frameto'vary the 7 position of the triangular part andtheangles, purpose four spaced holes 29 are provided in the thereof.

Alternatively,

i2 may be my invention and .desire to.

a forward direction at V 3. Means for stretching or shaping socks and similar foot coverings, including a frame shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the toe, sole, heel and back portions of the sock or the like when in a flat condition, and extending forwardly at the top of the back portion, and having holes in its toe and heel portions, and a cord adapted, when in use, to extend from the toe portion of the frame to and engage with the forwardly extending portion thereof, and to be moved into position to apply tension to the front of the sock to cause it to be stretched or shaped upon and by the frame and said cord; said cord including a portion adapted to extend from the forwardly extending portion of the frame to a point in the region of the ankle, a triangular part connecting said first-mentioned portion to the toe and heel portions of the frame and adjustable in the holes in the frame to vary the position of the triangular part and the angles thereof, and means for limiting the movement of the cord in the holes.

4. Means for stretching or shaping socks and similar foot coverings, including a frame shaped to conform substantially to the shape of the toe, sole, heel and back portions of the sock or the like when in a flat condition, and having an arcuate portion extending forwardly at the top of the 6 back portion, and a movable cord adapted, when in use, to extend from the toe portion of the frame to and adjustably engage with the arcuate forwardly extending portion thereof, and to be moved into position to apply tension to the front of the sock to cause it to be stretched or shaped upon and by the frame and said cord; said cord including a portion adapted to extend from the forwardly extending portion of the frame to a point in the region of the ankle, a portion connecting the cord at such point to the toe portion of the frame and serving to stretch or shape the front of the foot of the sock, and a further portion connecting said cord at said point to the heel portion of the frame and serving to limit the movement of the cord in a forward direction at the ankle.

NORRIS BARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,156,349 Oldfield May 2, 1939 2,354,849 Causer Aug. 1, 1944 

